Saddle-type vehicle

ABSTRACT

A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained. A motorcycle is a vehicle in which seat rails are included in a rear portion of a body frame with a rider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined towards the front side of the vehicle that is mounted on the seat rails. An airbag module accommodating an airbag therein and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly from the body frame and is disposed on the front side of the rider seat. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module or from the airbag mounting stay.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to JapanesePatent Application No. 2009-109220 filed on Apr. 28, 2009 the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improvement in a saddle-type vehicleequipped with an airbag apparatus.

2. Description of Background Art

A saddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus is known whereinthe airbag apparatus is positioned on the front side of a rider seat onwhich a rider or riders are to be seated. See, for example, JapanesePatent No. 3685872 (FIG. 3).

In FIG. 3 of Japanese Patent No. 3685872, a fuel tank 4 (the samereference symbols as those in the document are used here) is disposed ata front portion of a body frame 1 with a seat 5 being provided at a rearportion of the body frame 1 and an airbag module M is disposed at aposition which is between the fuel tank 4 and the seat 5 (hereinafterreferred to as “rider seat”) which is proximate to the upper surface ofthe body frame 1. The airbag module M is mounted to the body frame 1through a mounting stay 10 and a mounting piece 11.

In Japanese Patent No. 3685872, at the time of mounting to the bodyframe 1 the rider seat whose front end portion is upwardly inclinedtoward the front side of the vehicle, an independent support member maybe additionally provided for supporting the front end portion of therider seat. In such a case, it is necessary to provide the body framewith the support member for supporting the front end portion of therider seat, leading to an increase in the number of component parts.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide asaddle-type vehicle equipped with an airbag apparatus in which anincrease in the number of component parts can be restrained.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a saddle-typevehicle is provided that includes a body frame including seat rails in arear portion thereof, a rider seat mounted on the seat rails with therider seat having a front end portion upwardly inclined toward the frontside of the vehicle. An airbag module accommodates an airbag thereinwith the airbag module being disposed on the front side of the riderseat and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upward from the bodyframe. A seat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seatextends from the airbag module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, in a saddle-typevehicle includes a body frame including seat rails in a rear portionthereof with a rider seat mounted on the seat rails. The rider seat hasa front end portion upwardly inclined toward the front side of thevehicle, and an airbag module accommodating an airbag therein, theairbag module being disposed on the front side of the rider seat andfixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upward from the body frame. Aseat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extendsfrom the airbag mounting stay.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fuel tank isdisposed in a space ranging from the lower side of the airbag module tothe lower side of the front end portion of the rider seat.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of theairbag module and the airbag mounting stay is provided with a cowlmounting stay to which a cowl for covering the body frame is mounted.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of theairbag module and the airbag mounting stay is provided with a pipesupport part for supporting a fuel pipe.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a pair of left andright main frames extend rearwardly from a head pipe with an uppersurface of the fuel tank being disposed between the left and right mainframes and being so formed as to be located above the left and rightmain frames. The airbag mounting stay extends from the left and rightmain frames to above the upper surface of the fuel tank.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a seat hook forholding a front end portion of the rider seat extends from the airbagmodule. Since the rider seat having the front end portion upwardlyinclined toward the front side of the vehicle can be held by the airbagmodule, an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained.With an increase in the number of component parts being restrained, thevehicle body can be simplified in structure.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a seat hook forholding a front end portion of the rider seat extends from an airbagmounting stay. Since the rider seat can be held by the airbag mountingstay, an increase in the number of component parts can be restrained.With an increase in the number of component parts restrained, thevehicle body can be simplified in structure.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fuel tank isdisposed in a space ranging from the lower side of the airbag module tothe lower side of the front end portion of the rider seat. Even if othermember than the body frame is disposed on the lower side of the airbagmodule and on the lower side of the rider seat, the airbag module andthe rider seat can be supported.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of theairbag module and the airbag mounting stay is provided with a cowlmounting stay, so that not only the rider seat but also the cowl can bemounted to the airbag module and/or the airbag mounting stay.Accordingly, the number of component parts can be reduced, and thevehicle body can be simplified in structure.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of theairbag module and the airbag mounting stay is provided with a pipesupport part, so that not only the rider seat but also a fuel pipe canbe mounted. Accordingly, the number of component parts can be reduced,and the vehicle body can be simplified in structure.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper surfaceof the fuel tank is formed so as to be located above a pair of left andright main frames, and the airbag mounting stay extends from the leftand right main frames to above the upper surface of the fuel tank. Withsuch an airbag mounting stay, it is possible to dispose the airbagmodule in an optimum position, for example, to dispose the airbag moduleclose to the rider.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle pertaining to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of showing a condition where a rider seat andan airbag apparatus are mounted to the motorcycle pertaining to theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view for illustrating the relationship between a seathook extended from an airbag module pertaining to the invention and therider seat;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along arrow 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for illustrating the relationship betweenthe seat hook extended from the airbag module pertaining to theinvention and the rider seat;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cowl mounting stay extended from theairbag module pertaining to the invention;

FIG. 9 is a back view for illustrating that a cowl can be mounted to thecowl mounting stay extended from the airbag module pertaining to theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view for illustrating the laying-around of a wiringwhich interconnects the airbag module pertaining to the invention and anairbag control unit;

FIG. 11 illustrates operation of a motorcycle having an airbag apparatuspertaining to the invention;

FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the seat hook extended from the airbagmounting stay according to the invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the seat hook extended from the airbagmounting stay pertaining to the invention; and

FIG. 16 is a view of another embodiment of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.In the drawings and the embodiments, the directions “up,” “down,”“front,” “rear,” “left,” and “right” refer to the directions as viewedfrom a driver seated on the motorcycle. In addition, the drawings are tobe viewed according to the posture of reference symbols.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a motorcycle 10 is a saddle-type vehicle thatincludes a head pipe 11, and a body frame 12 extending rearward from thehead pipe 11.

The body frame 12 includes, as major components, a pair of main frames15L and 15R (only reference symbol 15L on the viewer's side is shown)extend rearwardly from the head pipe 11 which constitutes a frontportion of a vehicle body 14 with a pair of left and right pivot plates17L and 17R (only reference symbol 17L on the viewer's side is shown)mounted to rear end portions of the main frames 15L and 15R and having apivot shaft 16. A pair of left and right seat rails 18L and 18R (onlyreference symbol 18L on the viewer's side is shown) rise rearwardly andupwardly from upper portions of the pivot plates 17L and 17R and thenextend rearwardly. A pair of left and right middle frames 19L and 19R(only reference symbol 19L on the viewer's side is shown) interconnectrear end portions of the seat rails 18L and 18R and intermediateportions of the pivot plates 17L and 17R and support the seat rails 18Land 18R. In short, the seat rails 18L and 18R are included in a rearportion of the body frame 12.

A pair of left and right sub-rails 21L and 21R (only reference 21L onthe viewer's side is shown) extend rearwardly from upper end portions ofthe middle frames 19L and 19R. A pair of left and right seat stays 22Land 22R interconnect rear portions of the sub-rails 21L and 21R and themiddle frames 19L and 19R, respectively. A pair of left and rightauxiliary stays 23L and 23R (only reference symbol 23L on the viewer'sside is shown) extend rearwardly and downwardly from rear portions ofthe sub-rails 21L and 21R and then extend horizontally toward the frontside.

A trunk 27 for accommodating objects therein is mounted to the sub-rails21L and 21R, and a back rest 28 for holding the rider's back is mountedto a front wall 27 a of the trunk 27.

An engine 32 is suspended under the main frames 15L and 15R throughfastening members 31 a to 31 c. The engine 32 is a horizontally opposedsix-cylinder water-cooled engine.

A pair of left and right rear swing arms 34L and 34R (only referencesymbol 34L on the viewer's side is shown) which can be vertically swungabout the pivot shaft 16 are mounted to the pivot plates 17L and 17R. Arear wheel 36 is rotatably mounted to rear end portions of the rearswing arms 34L and 34R through a rear axle 35. The rear wheel 36 isdriven by a chain 42 which is wrapped around a drive sprocket 38attached to a drive shaft 37 of the engine 32 and a driven sprocket 41formed to be integral with the rear wheel 36.

A rear shock absorber 48 is risingly mounted to intermediate portions ofthe rear swing arms 34L and 34R through a link mechanism 47. An upperend portion of the rear shock absorber 48 is mounted to a bracket 49formed on the side of the main frames 15L and 15R.

A front fork 52 is steerably mounted to the head pipe 11. A front wheel54 is mounted to the front fork 52 through a front axle 53. A steeringhandle 55 is attached to an upper end portion of the front fork 52. Thehead pipe 11 is a member for turnably supporting the steering handle 55.

An opening part 57 is formed on a lateral side of front portions of themain frames 15L and 15R and on a lateral side of a main cowl 56. Aradiator unit 58 for cooling the engine 32 is disposed so as to face theopening part 57.

In FIG. 1, a front disk brake unit 61 is provided together with a frontdisk plate 62, a front cowl 63 for covering the front side of thevehicle, a front shield 64, a front fender 66, a pair of left and rightmain stand brackets 68L and 68R (only reference symbol 68L on theviewer's side is shown), a battery 67 disposed under a rider seat 71, amain stand 69 and 70 denotes a meter or meters 70.

The rider seat 71 on which the riders are to be seated is provided onthe seat rails 18L and 18R. The rider seat 71 has a structure in which aresin-made front seat 72 permits the rider to be seated thereon and arear seat 73 is provided in continuity with a rear portion of the frontseat 72 that are integrally disposed on the upper side of a seat bottomplate.

In FIG. 2, of the rider seat 71 on which the riders are to be seated, arear end portion of the seat bottom plate is attached to the seat rails18L and 18R through pairs of left and right fastening bolts 75L, 75R,76L and 76R.

An airbag module 82 is mounted to the main frames 15L and 15R through anairbag mounting stay 81. A seat hook 84 for holding a front end portion83 of the bottom plate of the rider seat 71 extends rearwardly from theairbag module 82. In other words, the airbag module 82 is fixed to theairbag mounting stay 81 provided as a stay extending upwardly from thebody frame 12.

The airbag module 82 is one of components of an airbag apparatus 86. Theairbag apparatus 86 includes, as major components, the airbag module 82,and an airbag control unit 87 for controlling the deployment of anairbag (reference symbol 101 in FIG. 4, described later) which isaccommodated in the airbag module 82.

Summing up the foregoing, the rider seat 71 is mounted on and attachedto the seat rails 18L and 18R in the condition in which the front endportion 83 of the seat bottom plate is upwardly inclined toward thefront side of the vehicle. The airbag module 82 is disposed on the frontside of the rider seat 71.

Referring to FIG. 1, left and right first sensors 77, 77 (only referencesymbol 77 on the viewer's side is shown) and left and right secondsensors 78, 78 (only reference symbol 78 on the viewer's side is shown)for detecting an impact on the vehicle body 14 are disposed respectivelyat an upper portion and a lower portion of the front fork 52. Firstcables 79, 79 (only reference symbol 79 on the viewer's side is shown)extend from the upper and lower sensors 77, 77, 78, 78, and are passedon the upper side of the engine 32, to be connected to the airbagcontrol unit 87. The meter or meters 70 include an indicator 80 fordisplaying whether the airbag apparatus 86 is in a normal state or anabnormal state. A second cable 85 extends from the indicator 80, and isconnected to the airbag control unit 87. In addition, a third cable 88extends from a battery 67, and is passed on the lower side of the riderseat 71, to be connected to the airbag control unit 87.

In FIG. 3, an air cleaner unit 92 with an element 91 incorporatedtherein is disposed between the left and right main frames 15L and 15R,and a fuel tank 93 is disposed on the upper side of the air cleaner unit92. The airbag control unit 87 is disposed on the left side of the fueltank 93 and on the inner side in the vehicle width direction relative tothe overall width (Y) of the left and right main frames 15L and 15R. InFIG. 3, an oil filler cap 94 is provided which openably covers an oilfiller port 90 provided at an upper front portion of the fuel tank 83.

Since the airbag control unit 87 is disposed along a lateral side of thefuel tank 93, the increase in the vehicle width due to the arrangementof the airbag control unit 87 can be minimized.

In addition, since the airbag control unit 87 is disposed on the innerside in the vehicle width direction relative to the left and right mainframes 15L and 15R, the shape of the cowl (reference symbol 106 in FIG.9, described later) can be set compact and freely, as compared with thecase where the airbag control unit 87 is disposed to exceed the outerwidth of the main frames 15L and 15R.

In FIG. 4, the fuel tank 93 is disposed between the left and right mainframes 15L and 15R. Left and right inflators 95 and 96 for generating agas for inflating the airbag 101 and the airbag module 82 accommodatingthe airbag 101 therein are disposed on the upper side of the fuel tank93. In short, the airbag module 82 accommodates the airbag 101 therein.

The airbag module 82 has a holding box 98 as a casing. The holding box98 is composed of a bottom plate 102, side plates 105 provided erectlyon the bottom plate 102, and a lid 104 for covering the upper side ofthe side plates 105.

The bottom plate 102 of the holding box 98 is provided with openingparts 100L and 100R, and the inflators 95 and 96 arranged in parallel onthe left and right sides are provided so as to penetrate the openingparts 100L and 100R, respectively.

In addition, while the two inflators 95 and 96 are arranged in parallelon the left and right sides, the number of the inflators may bearbitrary, and the inflators may be arranged in parallel on the frontand rear sides. Thus, the arrangement of the inflators is not limited tothe form of layout according to this embodiment.

Now, the layout of the airbag control unit 87 will be described below.

In FIGS. 2 to 4, the airbag module 82 is disposed on the front side ofthe rider seat 71, and the airbag control unit 87 is disposed at aposition which is between the head pipe 11 and the airbag module 82 andwhich is deviated to the left side from the center line passing throughthe center of the vehicle width.

In addition, the airbag control unit may be disposed at a positiondeviated to the right side from the center line passing through thecenter of the vehicle width.

The airbag control unit 87 is a member having a box-like shape of whichthe length (L) along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle isgreater than the width (W) along the vehicle width direction, and theheight (T) along the vehicle height direction is greater than the width(W) along the vehicle width direction.

Thus, the airbag control unit 87 is a box-like member having a width (W)which is smaller than each of the length (L) and the height (T). Sincethe airbag control unit 87 having the width (W) smaller than each of thelength (L) and the height (T) is disposed along the vehicle widthdirection, an increase of the vehicle size in the vehicle widthdirection can be restrained.

Now, the layout of the fuel tank will be described below.

The fuel tank 93 is disposed in a space ranging from the lower side ofthe airbag module 82 to the lower side of the front end portion 83 ofthe rider seat 71. Such a layout of the fuel tank 93 ensures that theairbag module 82 and the rider seat 71 can be supported, even in thecase where other member than the body frame 12 is disposed on the lowerside of the airbag module 82 and the lower side of the rider seat 71.

In FIGS. 5 to 8, the airbag module 82 has the holding box 98accommodating the inflators 95 and 96 therein. A lid 104 as a coverhaving a fragile portion (not shown) at part thereof so that the airbag(reference symbol 101 in FIG. 4) can be inflated and deployed isprovided at an upper portion of the holding box 98. The seat hook 84 forholding the front end portion 83 of the rider seat 71 extends rearwardlyfrom the holding box 98. Separately from the seat hook 84, cowl mountingstays 107L and 107R to which a cowl 106 for covering the body frame 12is to be mounted extend rearwardly from the holding box 98. Weld nuts108, 108 are provided for mounting the cowl 106 together with fasteningmembers 109 . . . ( . . . indicates plurality, here and hereafter) forfixing the airbag module 82 to the airbag mounting stay 81. Screwmembers 110, 110 are provided for mounting the cowl 106.

The seat hook 84 has a U-shaped part 112 which is substantially U-shapedin a plan view. A holding piece 113 extends downwardly from the frontend portion 83 of the rider seat bottom plate and then extendsrearwardly and is hooked on the U-shaped part 112 from above, the frontend portion 83 of the rider seat bottom plate is held onto the seat hook84.

Further, the holding box 98 of the airbag module 82 is provided with apipe support part 116. Since the pipe support part 116 is thus provided,not only the rider seat 71 but also a fuel pipe 118 can be mounted tothe airbag module 82.

In addition, the pipe support part is not limited to the one forsupporting the fuel pipe; for example, the pipe support part may be onefor supporting cables such as harnesses.

Since the airbag module 82 is provided with the seat hook 84, the cowlmounting stays 107L and 107R, and the pipe support part 116, it ispossible to reduce the number of component parts and to make the vehiclebody simple in structure.

In addition, the pipe support part 116 may be provided in the airbagmounting stay 81.

Referring to FIG. 2 as well, an extension stay 131 extends forward fromthe airbag mounting stay 81, and the airbag control unit 87 is mountedto the extension stay 131 by fastening members 132, 132. Since theextension stay 131 functions also as a mounting member for the airbagcontrol unit 87 and extends from the airbag mounting stay 81. Thus,there is no fear that the number of component parts would be increased.

In FIGS. 8 and 9, on the left and right outer sides of the seat hook 84for supporting the front end portion 83 of the rider seat bottom plate,the cowl mounting stays 107L and 107R extend rearwardly from the airbagmodule 82. With the structure in which the rider seat 71 can be held bythe seat hook 84 and the cowl 106 can be mounted by the cowl mountingstays 107L and 107R, it is possible to restrain an increase in thenumber of component parts. With an increase in the number of componentparts thus restrained, the vehicle body can be simplified in structure.

Summing up the foregoing, the airbag module 82 is provided with the cowlmounting stays 107L and 107R for the cowl 106 for covering the bodyframe 12, so that not only the rider seat 71 but also the cowl 106 canbe mounted. Accordingly, the number of component parts can be reduced,and the vehicle body can be simplified in structure.

In addition, the airbag mounting stay 81 may be provided with the cowlmounting stays 107L and 107R. Further, both the airbag module 82 and theairbag mounting stay 81 may be provided with the cowl mounting stays107L, 107R.

In FIG. 10, a wiring 122 for transmitting a deployment control signalfor the airbag 101 is provided between the airbag control unit 87 andthe airbag module 82. The wiring 122 extends from a front portion 135 ofthe airbag control unit 87, is passed on the front side of the airbagmodule 82, and is passed on the outer side of a right side surface 136of the airbag module 82 on which the airbag control unit 87 is notdisposed. The wiring 122 is then passed between the airbag module 82 andthe rider seat 71, to be connected to the airbag module 82. Morespecifically, the wiring 122 is provided with a wiring connector part134 at a leading end portion thereof, and the wiring connector part 134is connected to a connector part 124 on the module side.

Thus, the airbag apparatus 86 has the airbag control unit 87 forcontrolling the deployment of the airbag 101. The wiring 122 fortransmitting the deployment control signal for the airbag 101 isprovided between the airbag control unit 87 and the inflators 95, 96.

The wiring 122 for interconnecting the airbag control unit 87 and theairbag module 82 extends from the front portion 135 of the airbagcontrol unit 87, and is passed on a lateral side of the airbag module82, to be connected to the airbag module 82. According to such a layingof wiring, a worker can easily carry out wiring works by putting a handor hands into a required site from a lateral side of the airbag module82. Accordingly, workability relating to wiring can be enhanced.

Now, the operation of the above-mentioned saddle-type vehicle will bedescribed below.

In FIG. 11, the airbag control unit 87 is disposed between the head pipe11 and the airbag module 82 in side view of the vehicle.

If the airbag control unit 87 is disposed, for example, on the left sideof the airbag module 82 in the case where the space between the left andright main frames 15L and 15R is set to be narrow, there is apossibility that the airbag control unit 87 may protrude to the outsideof the left main frame 15L, resulting in an enlargement of the vehiclewidth.

In this connection, according to the present invention, the airbagcontrol unit 87 is disposed between the head pipe 11 and the airbagmodule 82.

Where the airbag control unit 87 is thus disposed between the head pipe11 and the airbag module 82, the vehicle width can be restrained frombeing enlarged. In this case, the lateral side of the air bag module 82and the lateral side of the airbag control unit 87 are both in an area160 of contact by the knee K of the driver D. With the vehicle widthrestrained from being enlarged in this area 160, gripping of the vehiclebody by the knees K of the driver D can be performed easily.

In FIG. 11, rider steps 161, 161 (only reference symbol 161 on theviewer's side is shown) are provided at lower portions of the pivotplates 17L and 17R and on which the feet of the driver D are positioned.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the upper surface of the fuel tank 93 isformed so as to be located above the pair of left and right main frames15L and 15R, and the airbag mounting stay 81 extends from the left andright main frames 15L and 15R to above the upper surface of the fueltank 93. With such an airbag mounting stay 81, it is possible to disposethe airbag module 82 at an optimum position, for example, to dispose theairbag module 82 close to the rider.

In addition to this, the fuel tank 93 is disposed in a space rangingfrom the lower side to the front side of the airbag module 82; a frontportion of the fuel tank 93 is bulged to the upper side on the frontside of the airbag module 82 and is provided with an oil filler port 90;and the airbag control unit 87 is disposed on a lateral side of the oilfiller port 90. Consequently, the airbag module 82, the fuel tank 93,the oil filler port 90 and the airbag control unit 87 can be disposed ina limited space on the front side of the rider seat 71, so that aneffective utilization of space is achieved. In addition, even with sucha layout, a reduction in the capacity of the fuel tank 93 can beobviated.

In FIGS. 12 and 13, a seat hook arm 141 substantially U-shaped in planview extends from an airbag mounting stay 81B provided as a stay formounting an airbag module 82 to main frames 15L and 15R. A seat hook 144which is substantially C-shaped in plan view and which holds a front endportion 83 of a rider seat bottom plate is mounted to extend from atransverse arm part 142 of the seat hook arm 141. In addition, the seathook arm 141 is mounted to the airbag mounting stay 81B by bolts 155 . .. .

In FIGS. 12 and 13, bolts 148 . . . are provided for firmly attachingthe airbag mounting stay 81 to the main frames 15L, 15R. In addition,the airbag mounting stay 81B may be attached to the main frames 15L, 15Rby welding.

In FIG. 14, the airbag mounting stay 81B is composed of a combination ofleft and right longitudinal plates 151, 151, which are angular U-shapedin section, with a transverse plate 154 provided bridgingly betweenupper end portions of the left and right longitudinal plates 151, 151.The seat hook arm 141 is mounted on the overlapping portions of thelongitudinal plates 151, 151 and the transverse plate 154, and they aremounted by co-fastening by means of bolts 155 . . . and nuts 156 . . . .

In FIG. 15, a seat hook 144 for holding a front end portion 83 of arider seat bottom plate is extended from the airbag mounting stay 81B.Since the rider seat 71 can be held by the airbag mounting stay 81B, anincrease in the number of component parts can be restrained. With anincrease in the number of component parts thus restrained, the vehiclebody can be simplified in structure.

In FIG. 16, a wiring 122 b for transmitting a deployment control signalfor an airbag (reference symbol 101 in FIG. 4) is provided between anairbag control unit 87 and the airbag module 82. The wiring 122B extendsfrom a rear portion 137 of the airbag control unit 87, and is passedbetween the airbag module 82 and the rider seat 71, to be connected tothe airbag module 82.

Since the wiring 122B for interconnecting the airbag control unit 87 andthe airbag module 82 extends from the rear portion 137 of the airbagcontrol unit 87 and is connected to the airbag module 82, the wiring122B can be laid to extend to the airbag module 82 through a shortestdistance.

In addition, while the present invention is applied to a saddle-typevehicle in the embodiments above, the invention can be applied also tothree-wheel vehicles, and may be applied to general vehicles.

The present invention is preferable for application to a motorcycleequipped with an airbag apparatus.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

1. A saddle vehicle, comprising: a body frame including seat rails in arear portion thereof; a rider seat mounted on the seat rails, the riderseat having a front end portion upwardly and inclined toward a frontside of the vehicle; and an airbag module accommodating an airbagtherein, the airbag module being disposed adjacent to the front endportion of the rider seat and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extendingupward from the body frame; wherein a seat hook for holding the frontend portion of the rider seat extends from the airbag module.
 2. Asaddle vehicle, comprising: a body frame including seat rails in a rearportion thereof; a rider seat mounted on the seat rails, the rider seathaving a front end portion upwardly inclined toward a front side of thevehicle; and an airbag module accommodating an airbag therein, theairbag module being disposed adjacent to the front end portion of therider seat and fixed by an airbag mounting stay extending upwardly fromthe body frame; wherein a seat hook for holding the front end portion ofthe rider seat extends from the airbag mounting stay.
 3. The saddlevehicle according to claim 1, wherein a fuel tank is disposed in a spaceranging from a lower side of the airbag module to the lower side of thefront end portion of the rider seat.
 4. The saddle vehicle according toclaim 2, wherein a fuel tank is disposed in a space ranging from a lowerside of the airbag module to the lower side of the front end portion ofthe rider seat.
 5. The saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein atleast one of the airbag module and the airbag mounting stay is providedwith a cowl mounting stay to which a cowl for covering the body frame ismounted.
 6. The saddle vehicle according to claim 2, wherein at leastone of the airbag module and the airbag mounting stay is provided with acowl mounting stay to which a cowl for covering the body frame ismounted.
 7. The saddle vehicle according to claim 3, wherein at leastone of the airbag module and the airbag mounting stay is provided with acowl mounting stay to which a cowl for covering the body frame ismounted.
 8. The saddle vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at leastone of the airbag module and the airbag mounting stay is provided with apipe support part for supporting a fuel pipe.
 9. The saddle vehicleaccording to claim 2, wherein at least one of the airbag module and theairbag mounting stay is provided with a pipe support part for supportinga fuel pipe.
 10. The saddle vehicle according to claim 3, wherein atleast one of the airbag module and the airbag mounting stay is providedwith a pipe support part for supporting a fuel pipe.
 11. The saddlevehicle according to claim 3, wherein a pair of left and right mainframes extend rearward from a head pipe, an upper surface of the fueltank disposed between the left and right main frames is formed so as tobe located above the left and right main frames, and the airbag mountingstay extends from the left and right main frames to above the uppersurface of the fuel tank.
 12. The saddle vehicle according to claim 4,wherein a pair of left and right main frames extend rearward from a headpipe, an upper surface of the fuel tank disposed between the left andright main frames is formed so as to be located above the left and rightmain frames, and the airbag mounting stay extends from the left andright main frames to above the upper surface of the fuel tank.
 13. Thesaddle vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a pair of left and rightmain frames extend rearward from a head pipe, an upper surface of thefuel tank disposed between the left and right main frames is formed soas to be located above the left and right main frames, and the airbagmounting stay extends from the left and right main frames to above theupper surface of the fuel tank.
 14. A saddle vehicle, comprising: a bodyframe including seat rails in a rear portion thereof; a rider seatmounted on the seat rails, the rider seat having a front end portionupwardly and inclined toward a front side of the vehicle; and an airbagmodule accommodating an airbag therein, the airbag module being disposedadjacent to the front end portion of the rider seat and fixed by anairbag mounting stay extending upward from the body frame; wherein aseat hook for holding the front end portion of the rider seat extendsfrom at least one of the airbag module and the airbag mounting stay andprojects rearwardly towards the rider seat.
 15. The saddle vehicleaccording to claim 14, wherein a fuel tank is disposed in a spaceranging from a lower side of the airbag module to the lower side of thefront end portion of the rider seat.
 16. The saddle vehicle according toclaim 14, wherein at least one of the airbag module and the airbagmounting stay is provided with a cowl mounting stay to which a cowl forcovering the body frame is mounted.
 17. The saddle vehicle according toclaim 14, wherein at least one of the airbag module and the airbagmounting stay is provided with a pipe support part for supporting a fuelpipe.
 18. The saddle vehicle according to claim 15, wherein a pair ofleft and right main frames extend rearward from a head pipe, an uppersurface of the fuel tank disposed between the left and right main framesis formed so as to be located above the left and right main frames, andthe airbag mounting stay extends from the left and right main frames toabove the upper surface of the fuel tank.
 19. The saddle vehicleaccording to claim 15, and further including an airbag control unitoperatively mounted adjacent to a side of the fuel tank wherein a widthof the vehicle due to a width of the airbag module can be minimized. 20.The saddle vehicle according to claim 18, and further including anairbag control unit operatively mounted adjacent to a side of the fueltank and within a vehicle width dimension of the left and right mainframes wherein a width of the vehicle due to a width of the airbagmodule can be minimized.